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Answers for Each Day - April 17

2014Apr 17

COMMENTS

The First Step Toward Freedom

Now there is in Jerusalem by the Sheep Gate a pool, which is called in Hebrew, Bethesda, having five porches. In these lay a great multitude of sick people, blind, lame, paralyzed, waiting for the moving of the water. For an angel went down at a certain time into the pool and stirred up the water; then whoever stepped in first, after the stirring of the water, was made well of whatever disease he had. Now a certain man was there who had an infirmity thirty-eight years. When Jesus saw him lying there, and knew that he already had been in that condition a long time, He said to him, "Do you want to be made well?" (John 5:2-6).

Jesus asked this man a seemingly ridiculous question, "Do you want to be made well?" It's obvious isn't it? He is at the ool, isn't he? The only reason people went there was to be healed. What kind of a question is that to be asking? Of course, he wanted to be healed.

But Jesus was not convinced. This man had been stuck in his condition for a long time. He was not only lying down on the outside, he was lying down on the inside.

Sometimes people get used to living in their problems. While they may outwardly be going through the motions to get free (generally because they know that is what is expected of them), inwardly they have given up.

The first step toward getting free from your problems and that which binds and restricts your life is wanting it—really wanting it.

You have to stand up on the inside before you can ever stand up on the outside.

Let me be very bold and ask you: Do you want to be made well? Do you really want things to change? Or have you grown accustomed to living under the devil's heel?

If you are tired of defeat, mediocrity and bondage, then stand up on the inside and say, "Enough is enough!"

It is the first step toward freedom.

Visit the Answers with Bayless Conley website for more ways to Connect with God
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FEATURED RESOURCE

God Pleading Through Us & There is Always Hope

God can bring hope to even the most devastating and hopeless of circumstances. He can turn impossible situations around, and save lost and weary souls. He has a way of reaching us just where we are.

In his booklet, There Is Always Hope, and CD/DVD message, God Pleading Through Us, Bayless Conley shares his personal testimony . . . how God transformed the life of a truly lost and hopeless soul.

God can do the same for you and your loved ones! That is why we would like to send you a copy of these powerful resources as our gift to thank youfor your support of Answers with Bayless Conley and helping to bless others with the Gospel. So thank you for giving.

We pray that you and those you care about would know the amazing hope that God can bring today!